It also warns that by 2020 first time buyers will have to earn £63,000 to be able to afford an average home.

Campbell Robb, Shelter's Chief Executive, said: "When house prices are increasing nine times faster than the average wage, it's no wonder people on ordinary incomes are being locked out of a home of their own.

"With the situation only set to get worse, Generation Rent will be forced to resign themselves to a life in expensive, unstable private renting, and wave goodbye to their dreams of a home to put down roots in.

"It doesn't have to be like this. The Government has the power to turn our housing crisis around, but only if they stop with schemes like Starter Homes which only help higher earners, and start investing in homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford to live in."

The situation in Peterborough is a lot better though. The current average property in the city now will set a buyer back £121,046, and house prices have grown by just 6% in the last five years.